Zimbabwe lithium miners want royalties to be linked to prices
The battery metal has slumped from a peak in late 2022 amid oversupply and weak demand from the electric vehicle sector.
Three protestors are dead and 20 are injured at Aquarius Platinum’s Kwezi shaft when 200 disgruntled former contractors, some carrying petrol bombs, forced their way onto the company’s property on Wednesday. The mine shaft is located in South Africa, near Rustenburg.
A security company, hired by the miner, attempted to disperse the crowd.
“The people are understood to be former employees of the mine’s mining contractor, who were dismissed following illegal strike action in June 2012,” said the company in a statement.
Members of the South African Police, who were on site at the time of incident, have restored order.
Aquarius Platinum (LON:AQP) has been struggling due to regulatory hurdles, labour disruptions and low PGM prices. Early this year the South African miner placed its Everest mine on care and maintenance.
Image of Kroondal Platinum Mine (Kwezi Shaft) from wikimapia
